exoneration
Clearing of charges
Exoneration is the clearing of blame, guilt, or responsibility.
A prisoner may receive exoneration when new evidence proves innocence.
The word implies formal vindication—not just doubt about guilt, but confirmation that the accused did nothing wrong: After twenty years, DNA evidence led to his exoneration.
To exonerate is to grant such clearance.
Official release from punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
forgiveness · reprieve · commutation · remission · grace · condonation · dispensation · leniency
Formal clearing of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
innocence · evidence · testimony · alibi · witness · defense · judge · jury
Release from constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- reliefEasing of distress
deliverance · unburdening · unchaining · escape · rescue · restoration · second chance · fresh start
Not at fault
- blamelessFree of wrongdoing
- innocentFree from moral wrong
- cleanFree of soil
- irreproachableImpossible to criticize
unimpeachable · faultless · above suspicion · cleared · unblemished · untainted
Reason proving rightness
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- restorationReturning something to condition
- rectificationAct of setting straight
honor · reputation · truth · reparation · amends · restitution · public apology · retraction
pardon
Official release from punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
mercy · forgiveness · reprieve · commutation · remission · grace · condonation · dispensation · leniency · indulgence
acquittal
Formal clearing of charges
- verdictOfficial court decision
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- trialJudicial examination of claims
courtroom · innocence · evidence · testimony · alibi · witness · defense · judge · jury · defendant
liberation
Release from constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
relief · deliverance · unburdening · unchaining · escape · rescue · restoration · second chance · fresh start
guiltless
Not at fault
irreproachable · unimpeachable · faultless · above suspicion · cleared · unblemished · untainted
justification
Reason proving rightness
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- restorationReturning something to condition
rectification · honor · reputation · truth · reparation · amends · restitution · public apology · retraction · reinstatement
- crime newscrime scene, court reporter, court reporting, breaking news, arrest report
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- acquittalsnot guilty, cleared, innocence, vindication, acquittal
- historical justicetrial by combat, truth commissions, trial by ordeal, trial by fire, reparations
- equity lawchancery, injunction, injunctions, subrogation, fiduciary duty
- indemnityhold harmless, reimbursement, reparation, redress, liability coverage
exonerationconviction
Firmly held belief
guilty verdict · condemnation · sentencing · criminal conviction · incarceration
exonerationblame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
condemnation · censure · incrimination · inculpation · denunciation
exonerationarraignment
Charge-reading court session
indictment · accusation · impeachment · prosecution · charging
- DNA exonerationFreedom through genetic proof